BEARCATS SURVIVE SALEM TRIAL

Randon Ray ran for three first half touchdowns, threw for another one, and intercepted two passes as the Bearcats built a 42-7 halftime lead then coasted to a 49-21 Class 3A opening round playoff win over Salem at Bearcat Stadium Friday.

The second half highlight came from Cody Elliott, who provided the longest run in the playoff history when he exploded 81 yards to the scoreboard to make it 49-7.

Salem (6-5), who was facing Booneville (11-1) for the first time, got a couple of fourth quarter touchdowns to close the gap.

The game started with an onside kick that connected with a Greyhound giving the Bearcats the ball at the Salem 44-yard line.

It took three plays and just 47 seconds for the Bearcats to take a 7-0 lead on a 10-yard run by Randon Ray (shown) and the first of seven straight Pablo Ferrer point after kicks.

Salem responded with a 66-yard drive that took seven plays. After converting a fourth-and-6 the Greyhounds got a 41 yard scoring run and it was tied at 7-7.

Following the score Brett Welling recovered an onside kick and the Bearcats again started in Greyhound territory, and again scored with Randon Ray going in from 7.

Brooks Herrera had an 11-yard carry – his only attempt in the game during the drive.

The third Bearcat possession started in Bearcat territory, but just 55 yards from the end zone, and with Rocky Ross responsible for 41 yards to the 1 on the final play of the quarter, the teams switched ends of the field.

Ross finished with 61 yards on just three carries.

Randon Ray scored for the third time on the first play of what would be a 28-point second quarter for a 21-7 edge.

The next drive would be a single play with Dax Goff going 61 yards for a touchdown to make it 28-7 with an even 10 minutes left in the half.

Salem would then drive to the Bearcat 25 before a couple false starts and an incomplete fourth down pass ended the threat.

From there the Bearcats would make it 35-7 on a 32-yard Randon Ray to Rayce Blansett pass with 2:16 left in the half.

But first they survived a fumble, which Goff actually advanced six yards – figuring into his two carry, 73-yard night – and a blindside block call that wiped out a 13-yard Rylen Ray run.

Rylen Ray finished with 41 yards on six carries.

Salem started its next possession at its own 10 and, after a facemask penalty on the Bearcats, chose to go to the air, rather than run get to halftime.

The move proved costly as Randon Ray picked off a pass and returned it to the Greyhound 3.

Rylen Ray scored from there and it was 42-7 with 1:23 left in the half.

Again, Salem went up top four times in the final minute of the quarter, with Randon Ray intercepting another pass on the final play of the half.

Out of the intermission the Greyhounds used a Bearcat penalty to start from the Bearcat 40, but two plays into the half Blazen Jones picked off a pass at the 19.

Elliott hit the hole on the next play and kept running for 81 yards and a touchdown to make it 49-7.

With one other carry for a yard, Elliott’s 82 yards led the way for the Bearcats.

Eleven plays after the kickoff the Bearcats surrendered a 7-yard scoring run to make it 49-14 and, after a punt and another 15-yard penalty on the Bearcats, the ball was at the Bearcat 39.

Salem scored on a pass on the next play and it was 49-21 with under six minutes to play. With the 39-yard pass play, the Greyhounds threw for just 68 in the game.

Casey Mattson led the defense with three solo and four assisted tackles, Herrera added three solo and two assists, and Mason Goers had six assists, and was credited with one tackle for a loss.

Ross returned the ensuing kickoff 51 yards and the Bearcats, with the clock running, kept the ball the rest of the way.

The win moves the Bearcats into the second round and a game against Manila. As was the case a year ago the pairing is with the 2-seed from the 3A-2.

The Lions beat Danville 49-25 Friday and are 9-2 after the school’s first home playoff game and win.